Technology in Architectural Practice

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

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James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
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James, a lot of folks out there are using Plan Grid or apps similar to it that work on an iPad. I have started using it and do like it a lot. Does not have a reporting mechanism but its great for marking up documents in the field and maintaining up to date docs. It also works great for Punch Lists.


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Robert Lopez AIA
President/Owner
Lopez Salas Architects, Inc
San Antonio TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

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James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
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we use site audit pro for our sv work.
exports as a pdf when finished
great app...


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Stephen Angelo AIA
Architect
Offices of Stephen Michael Angelo, Architect AIA
Livermore CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2015 18:19
From: Robert Lopez
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

James, a lot of folks out there are using Plan Grid or apps similar to it that work on an iPad. I have started using it and do like it a lot. Does not have a reporting mechanism but its great for marking up documents in the field and maintaining up to date docs. It also works great for Punch Lists.

file:///Users/Rocky/Desktop/PlanGrid%20-%20the%20construction%20app%20that%20works%20for%20you..webloc

R

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Robert Lopez AIA
President/Owner
Lopez Salas Architects, Inc
San Antonio TX
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
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I would strongly recommend investigating the use of the Surface Pro 3 with Bluebeam software.

I have used Bluebeam software and a tablet with a stylus for many years now and believe that the software can be used to fit many different work flows that are used to create punchlists and mark up drawings.  I have made notes directly on the PDFs and created punchlist keynotes that can be dragged onto the PDF.  There are many videos on YouTube or on the Bluebeam web site in addition to whitepapers from architects or contractors that explain the various ways these companies use the software.

Since 2004 I have had 5 tablet/stylus capable computers and the Surface Pro 3 tablet is by far my favorite.  It has eliminated any need I have for any other laptop and the pen "action" is really responsive and natural.  Some other tablets I have tried come with a stylus but the manufactures have not made the effort to make the pen usable as a drawing or note taking device.

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Karl Person AIA
Senior Architect /Associate
Schemmer
Omaha NE
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2015 18:19
From: Robert Lopez
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

James, a lot of folks out there are using Plan Grid or apps similar to it that work on an iPad. I have started using it and do like it a lot. Does not have a reporting mechanism but its great for marking up documents in the field and maintaining up to date docs. It also works great for Punch Lists.

file:///Users/Rocky/Desktop/PlanGrid%20-%20the%20construction%20app%20that%20works%20for%20you..webloc

R

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Robert Lopez AIA
President/Owner
Lopez Salas Architects, Inc
San Antonio TX
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
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We use Newforma. It's a very robust platform. It allows you to store and retrieve emails by project, provides an easy way to download and upload files, and also has tools that are used during CA. We use it on tablets. We can annotate drawings in the field. We can create punch lists complete with references to the drawing and with photos attached.

Newforma is a very powerful tool that I highly recommend.

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Daniel Perruzzi AIA
Principal
Margulies Perruzzi Architects
E Weymouth MA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-10-2015 18:19
From: Robert Lopez
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

James, a lot of folks out there are using Plan Grid or apps similar to it that work on an iPad. I have started using it and do like it a lot. Does not have a reporting mechanism but its great for marking up documents in the field and maintaining up to date docs. It also works great for Punch Lists.

file:///Users/Rocky/Desktop/PlanGrid%20-%20the%20construction%20app%20that%20works%20for%20you..webloc

R

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Robert Lopez AIA
President/Owner
Lopez Salas Architects, Inc
San Antonio TX
-------------------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
-------------------------------------------

I used PlanGrid and liked it, but it was a very limited tool, handy for punchlist and field notes markups.

Since then we have implemented NewForma v11, which I highly recommend, as it provides an organized and well-tracked method to record and respond to RFIs, PRs, including automatic transmittal creation, filing of all related email messages, project team management, and much more.  It's not cheap, but depending on the amount of CA work you do, well worth it.  NewForma interacts with MS Outlook automatically when you use it correctly with the plug-ins, and for most people, it's easy to learn.

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Haden Smith AIA
KWK Architects
Ballwin MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
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Sherman Aronson AIA
BLT Architects
Philadelphia PA
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-11-2015 12:08
From: Haden Smith
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

I used PlanGrid and liked it, but it was a very limited tool, handy for punchlist and field notes markups.

Since then we have implemented NewForma v11, which I highly recommend, as it provides an organized and well-tracked method to record and respond to RFIs, PRs, including automatic transmittal creation, filing of all related email messages, project team management, and much more.  It's not cheap, but depending on the amount of CA work you do, well worth it.  NewForma interacts with MS Outlook automatically when you use it correctly with the plug-ins, and for most people, it's easy to learn.

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Haden Smith AIA
KWK Architects
Ballwin MO
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-09-2015 18:06
From: James Stumbo
Subject: Technology in Construcion Administration

We are moving towards trying to update our construction administration staff with new tools to assist them with doing their jobs.

Currently we use hand written field visit forms and no digital resources on the job site.

Can anyone provide us with some suggestions for software/hardware that might assist us in this area?  Looking for CA reports, punch lists, marking up drawings in the field with notes and photos, distribution of reports, etc.

Truthfully I am not completely sure what is out there so I am not completely sure what I am asking!

Any help is appreciated.

-------------------------------------------
James Stumbo AIA
Stewart Cooper Newell Architects
Gastonia NC
-------------------------------------------




Responding to all of today's comments - yes, our office uses Newforma for managing projects, including transmitting large files, integrating with our email in Outlook because it has a great search function, and even for team calendars. It does not have a punch list process, per se, as far as I know.

We also really like Bluebeam Revu for everything to do with drawings, reports, even some presentations. It is much more robust than Acrobat for making notes on drawings, either for in-house coordination, communication with contractors, shop drawing reviews, you name it. Bluebeam does have a built-in set of tools for punch lists, with keyed markers and lists. You even can make a drawing to scale from scratch in Bluebeam, with layers. I have an older iPad 2 and find that Bluebeam does not work well, too sluggish and the on-screen resolution is not great, also the viewable area is small within the Bluebeam window.

On the other hand, a great free app for any iPad is Notability, which has similar functions, but more generic. You can make markups freehand or with lines and colors, or use text boxes, then upload or email directly from the pad. Also I use it to take notes at meetings, and insert quick sketches. I tried Plan Grid on my iPad and it did not work very well, but others here like it on the more advanced iPads.

I have not used a Surface Pro yet but I can see the real advantages described in the other comment.

Good luck
Sherman Aronson AIA LEED BD+C